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Fireworks show in Downtown Omaha dazzles as thousands say so long to 2016

The 17th annual fireworks show to end the Holiday Lights Festival goes off without a hitch and plenty of cheers and applause.

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Updated: 10:08 AM CST Jan 1, 2017

Fireworks show in Downtown Omaha dazzles as thousands say so long to 2016

The 17th annual fireworks show to end the Holiday Lights Festival goes off without a hitch and plenty of cheers and applause.

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Updated: 10:08 AM CST Jan 1, 2017

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WEBVTT AND WHAT ITWILL PAY FOR AND WHY IT'S NOTGOING AWAY.THE COUNT DOWN TO 277 IS ON, ANDBUT MANY ARE ALREADY CELEBRATINGA A HUGE FIREWORKS DISPLAY OVERDOWNTOWN.MICHELLE IS LIVE.>> IT'S SO FESTIVAL DOWN HERETONIGHT.AS YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHTS ARESTILL UP, BUT THIS IS YOUR LASTNIGHT TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE HOLEHOLIDAYS LIGHTS FESTIVAL.THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PACKED INTOTHE MALL EARLIER THIS EVENING ITBID MARE WELL TO THE YEAR ANDWELCOME IN 2,017, ALL BE IT AFEW HOURS EARLY.>> A BANG UP CELEBRATION INDOWNTOWN AS OMAHA SAYS GOODBYETO 2016 .>> 2016 HAS BEEN A GREAT YEARBUT 2,017 WILL BE BETTER.>> WE'RE HIGH TO CELEBRATE2,077.>> THE FEWER WORKS LASTED ONLYTEN MINUTES<<DID YOU LIKE IT?>> YES.I LIKE THE ONES THAT EXPLODEDAND EXPLODED AGAIN.>> MOM AND DAD LIKE THAT THEYDON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTILMIDNIGHT.>> IT WAS PERFECT FOR A FAMILYFRIENDLY EVENT.>> PERFECT RIGHT AFTER DINNER,WE GETTING FOR HOME AND WATCHTHE BALL DROP.>> THESE FAMILY MEMBERS SAY ITDOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME THEYRING IN THE NEW YEAR, AS LONG ASTHEY DO I TOGETHER.PREANAL AINGE SIGN [.>> IT WAS STARTED UNT 1899.

Fireworks show in Downtown Omaha dazzles as thousands say so long to 2016

The 17th annual fireworks show to end the Holiday Lights Festival goes off without a hitch and plenty of cheers and applause.

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Updated: 10:08 AM CST Jan 1, 2017

OMAHA, NE- —

Happy New Year Omaha!

Thousands packed into Gene Leahy Mall to watch the ten minute fireworks show lighting up downtown.

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The show signifies the end of the Holiday Lights Festival, which started when Mayor Jean Stothert flipped the switch Thanksgiving Day. Just about one million lights shined bright the past six weeks.

Many families turned out to watch the fireworks because the show took place at 7 pm, not at midnight.

Mom, Alona Washington brought her two young children to bid farewell to 2016 and say hello to 2017. She said it's a perfect family event. "We've been cooped up inside and it's nice to get the kids out to celebrate 2017."

Jessica Johnson agreed, "We can be here as a family and get home in time to watch the ball drop and get the kids to bed at a decent hour."

There were lots of smiles, plenty of cheers and excitement as the fireworks boomed and the crowd yelled, "Happy New Year!"